Agreed. DC will develop into an excellent reserve on a championship caliber team, but Batum will be an excellent starter on the same team. OK, I'll fall into the hyperbole trap. In two years (if we don't make any significant trades), the Blazers big 3 will be Roy, Oden, and Batum. LMA will be a role player.
I would veto that trade, if I had veto power. That makes us worse for the next couple of years, and I'm hoping we can make some hay in the next couple of years. If Oden can stay healthy. barfo
It means that Chris Paul is worth more than the #4 pick? Edit: I guess it also means that I agree with Nikolokolus.
Wesley johnson is really good. I think he will be a perennial all star. But thats only a opinion. I think this offer was too good to be true. a top 5 pick for a late first rounder dosent make sense. There must be more to the story.
It's not horribly far-fetched, IMO. (EDIT: Batum for a lotto pick) Until Nic's phantom "health concerns" came up at the draft, he was a solid lotto guess by the mockers. At one point in 2007 I remember reading a mock that had him at #3 for the 2008 draft. I watched him play in France in Dec 2007 (against Gallinari) and thought that his offense was light-years ahead of his defense, as Gallinari went for 20 on him. Then, over the next 6 months, he got a) a reputation for being good on defense, and b) these health "red flags" about his heart, since his dad died on the court. We outmaneuvered SAS to get him in the draft. If Batum were in this draft today, he might go 2 or 3.
Obviously he would be higher but that was then and this is now. I would still take any pick above 5 for batum.
thats fine that you feel that way (I personally dont) I was just pointing out that the top #4 for late 1st rounder part doesnt really apply.
116 in 2 years = 58 per year 82 in 3 years = 27 per year BIG difference. However, I'm more concerned about Batum's soft-tissue shoulder injury than Oden's broken patella going forward, so I think it's a valid point.
For Oden or for Batum? Batum was a year later. I would say it looks worse for Oden that a 2 year vet who missed a good portion of his sophomore season, has actually played in more games lol.
That's like reverso-world logic. Batum has proved to probably be a top five player (potentially) from his draft class, but you'd trade 2 years of experience, 41% shooting from three, 52% from the floor and a few all-NBA defense votes for a top five pick in this draft who are complete unknowns ... Look at this list and tell me where Batum ranks http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/results/rounds/_/year/2008/round/1
Batum would most definitely be better if he got some damn minutes though. His per 36 are pretty good through 2 seasons. Now that I think about it, If he was healthy all the way through and got his minutes I think I would feel alot better about him.
I think the consensus is that Batum has the potential to be very similar to Scottie Pippen. You'd be crazy if you thought Pippen wasnt worth a #4 pick in his prime.
Batum shoots 47 from the floor, and There is about ten people that I would have over him on that list. Side Note: Remember when we were mocked to take JOE ALEXANDER!!!!! I would hate life if we drafted that guy. But your right, he is underrated in that draft class.
